About Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a natural system of medicine that uses highly diluted (‘potentized’) doses of substances to stimulate your body’s own healing ability and promote health. The use of homeopathic medicines (often referred to as remedies) is based on the Law of Similars, Similia Similibus Curantur, or let ‘likes be cured likes’. This is the discovery that a substance that would cause symptoms in a healthy person can be used to cure those same symptoms in illness.
A simplified example would be a common hayfever remedy, Allium cepa, or the red onion. As everyone knows slicing an onion can cause symptoms of burning, watery eyes and sometimes runny nose. Hayfever sufferers with these symptoms have found great relief after taking this remedy.
This postulate, present in the work of Paracelsus, the father of chemical medicine, was foreseen in ancient Greece by Hippocrates and in the traditions of native medicines. It was developed into a science by the German physician, Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843) over 200 years ago. He called it Homeopathy – from the Greek words homoios (similar) and pathos (disease or suffering). Its practice spread quickly throughout Europe and members of Britain’s Royal Family have used it since Queen Victoria’s reign. It has been widely used throughout the world for over 200 years but recently there has been an increase in demand as many people have turned to alternative forms of medicine to avoid side-effects from conventional treatment. Homeopathy can be used safely alongside it and will not interfere with the medicines prescribed by your doctor. As remedies are non-toxic, there are no side-effects and are even safe for pregnant women and babies.
